How to get a Job in Cannabis Business?

Ever thought about being a manager of a cannabis store? Or maybe a grow master? With an annual salary of up to $100,000, these positions attract more and more people in the industry. In fact, the legal cannabis industry has become a major job generator, with the number of employed people exceeding the number of bakers and dental hygienists.

The State of the Cannabis Industry

Marijuana Business Daily recently used the data of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to create Marijuana Business Factbook 2017 and compare the number of employees in the marijuana industry to mainstream professions. According to these sources, the cannabis industry employed 165,000+ workers in 2017.

This number is expected to reach 400,000 by 2021, opening high paying jobs all over the U.S. Clearly, the industry is booming, and new job opportunities are expected to grow over the next several years. Here are some examples of high-paying jobs as described by CNBC:

Store Manager ($75,000)

Cannabis Sales Representative ($80,000)

Dispensary Owner ($60,000)

Grow Master ($100,000)

Edibles Chefs ($50,000 – $100,000)

Here is the breakdown of marijuana industry jobs by sector, also courtesy of Marijuana Business Factbook 2017.

So should you try to become a part of this profitable business? If you think you should, here are some pointers you could use.

Does One Have to be a User?

First and foremost, many people think that one has to be a user to work in the marijuana industry. Cannabis businesses hire people from other industries and being a cannabis user isn’t a mandatory requirement.

How to Get a Job in Cannabis Business

Start by Doing Research

If you don’t have any experience or knowledge of the legal cannabis industry (e.g. you have no idea how to make dab or what the hack dab is), don’t worry – it’s totally okay to be starting from scratch. Do your research and you’ll discover a lot of useful information very quickly.

Just by reading this article, you’re already working on researching. So just ask Google what you need; for example, sign up for cannabis industry reliable website, newsletter, or blog.

Get Certified

Getting a certification for a particular in-demand skill is one of the best ways to get a job in the industry. The key skill, of course, is the ability to grow marijuana plants. That’s okay if you’ve never grown it.

Cannabis businesses are looking for graduates from agricultural schools and those with certificates from training schools. For example, cultivators hire people with experience in agricultural operations, like growing tomatoes. Retailers are looking for candidates who worked in stores and restaurants and can communicate with customers.

When you have your certification ready, it’s time to go job hunting. Visit popular job boards like Indeed and search for cannabis jobs in your area. Also, you need to check boards that list marijuana industry jobs, including CannaJobs and 420Carrers.

Look Professional

There are two important parts here: dressing and resume. First, you should dress like you’d dress for an interview with Elon Musk. Right now, cannabis businesses are trying to distance themselves from “stoner hippie” stereotypes and show that they are professional.

Second, your cover letter should be great. Proofread everything, avoid slang, and make a professional email address (not something like Ilikepot@gmail.com!). When explaining your passion for cannabis, also avoid lines like “I want to be around pot all the time.” Say that you’re a professional and you appreciate cannabis.

In addition to assessing your eligibility and legal requirements, you should find a rental property; the choice of the property should also follow a number of guidelines (e.g. it has to be more than 1000 feet from school).

And don’t forget about the business plan. It’s still a business, right? It shows a serious attitude and commitment to reaching success. Consider all costs, including licensing application fee, rent cost, cost of license, employee salary, security, and transportation and storage of products.

Wrapping Up

If you’re unsure of the best way to get their foot on the door, use these tips to lock down a cannabis-related career. Taking a leap into the burgeoning new industry could be a great adventure for you; besides you timing couldn’t be better, as cannabis market is becoming one of the fastest-growing ones in the U.S.

Kathrin Garner is an enthusiastic journalist and writes article on social issues. As an activist, she takes part in NCSM program, which is a discussion platform on the relevant cannabis topics. She searches for current issues, and writes about it to a wide range of readers.

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